Abstract
Background
Current staging methods for pancreatic cancer (PC) are inadequate, and biomarkers to
aid clinical decision making are lacking. Despite the availability of the serum marker
carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9) for over two decades, its precise role in the
management of PC is yet to be defined, and as a consequence, it is not widely used.
Methods
We assessed the relationship between perioperative serum CA19.9 levels, survival and
adjuvant chemotherapeutic responsiveness in a cohort of 260 patients who underwent
operative resection for PC.
Results
By specifically assessing the subgroup of patients with detectable CA19.9, we
identified potential utility at key clinical decision points. Low postoperative CA19.9
at 3 months (median survival 25.6 vs 14.8 months,
P = 0.0052) and before adjuvant chemotherapy were
independent prognostic factors. Patients with postoperative CA 19.9 levels >90 U/ml
did not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy
(P = 0.7194) compared with those with a CA19.9 of
≤90 U/ml (median 26.0 vs 16.7 months, P = 0.0108).
Normalization of CA19.9 within 6 months of resection was also an independent favorable
prognostic factor (median 29.9 vs 14.8 months,
P = 0.0004) and normal perioperative CA19.9 levels
identified a good prognostic group, which was associated with a 5-year survival of
42%.
Conclusions
Perioperative serum CA19.9 measurements are informative in patients with detectable
CA19.9 (defined by serum levels of >5 U/ml) and have potential clinical utility in
predicting outcome and response to adjuvant chemotherapy. Future clinical trials should
prioritize incorporation of CA19.9 measurement at key decision points to prospectively
validate these findings and facilitate implementation.
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